Growing up with a Parent who Abuses Substances Affects Generations of Children
For this video, I was asked to create a social action project for my communications class in college. We were told to pick a topic we are passionate about to make a real world change. My partner Haley and I chose the topic of how growing up with a parent who abuses substances affects you as a child into an adult, creating generational problems of abuse and trauma for all involved. We are both products of a parent who abused substances and at 20 years old still dealing with he effects of what we endured as children. I interviewed 3 generations of my family including my grandmother, mom, and myself to show just how much of a generational problem substance abuse can be.
I hope while watching and after this video can provide comfort for those who have experienced the same things, you are never alone in this journey and there are so many resources available in todays society that can allow you to heal from what you endured as a child.
The mission of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is to mitigate the harm caused by mental health issues, substance abuse, and addiction disorders in the United States.
If you, or a family member, needs help with a mental or substance use disorder, call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or TTY: 1-800-487-4889, or text your zip code to 435748 (HELP4U), or use FindTreatment.gov to get help.
Any of the proceeds I make from this video I will be donating to my fathers local AA meeting as he has chosen the path of recovery. The AA meetings he attends not only have helpful resources for him, but also provide outlets for the family members affected by the trauma they endured due to having a relative who abuses substances.